************************************************************************
Kaoru smiled at her, and Misao could feel her heart lift. Surely Kaoru-san knew what she was talking about. But she had to maintain her objectivity about her emotions…as stupid as that sounded.
" Kaoru-san! How…how will I ever…" her hands fisted at her sides and her eyes filled with tears. Kaoru looked at her with an expression of regret.
Aoshi-san fears his own emotions, I think. He can no longer hide behind the excuse that Misao-chan is a child, and he fears that he may love her, and he has lost so much of what he loves…
Kaoru reached out and placed her hand on Misao's.
" Misao-chan, it's alright. Trust me, it'll be all right. He does love you, and he's trying to hide it so much that it's become blatantly obvious. If you need, I'll talk to him at first, for you. But," she wagged her finger warningly, " only to get things started."
" Oh…Kaoru-san…" Misao's eyes widened as she grasped that she might, just possably, be able to have the man that she loved. She'd never allowed herself to consider it before, and the strength with which she discovered that she wanted it surprised herself. " Would you, please? I'm afraid I'd screw it up…" she looked down again, "…if I tried to express myself at first. If I could watch you, follow your example on what and how to say…"
Kaoru laughed lightly and started to reply when…
" YO BUSU, LET'S GET CRACKING!"
Misao's eye twitched and she watched worridly as Kaoru slowly started to rise and speak to her.
" Now, Misao, remember, Yahiko has not changed all that much, but he does have a little more respe…"
" YO BUSU! YOU'RE FIGURE ISN'T COMING BACK AS LONG AS YOUR SITTING AROUND IN THEIR EATING COOKIES!"
Calmly, Kaoru picked up a small stool that was near and flung it full force through a wall screen and, with her absolutly fantastic aim, nailed Yahiko full in the face.
" And that, Misao," Kaoru said, wagging her finger again, and smiling, " is why woman should take archery."
************************************************************************
K Sorry, another short chapter, but I'm trying to slowly work myself back into the story. And plus, I've been really cramped for time lately, and am writing this scrambling to get ready to go to an office function. Holidays are really really busy for me, but I'm going to get back into this fic. Cause dammit, it's the only one of my fics that I know where it's going!